In the world of aerial photography and videography, capturing the perfect shot is not just an art but it is also a science. Drone cameras have transformed the way we view the world – and allow us to see unparalleled sights and heights – beyond what has ever been possible before.

 

But, because drones soar high into the sky and into lower temperatures, historically, drone cameras also face unique challenges related to the thermal expansion of lenses, which impacts the quality and precision of the image quality.

 

Sheba technology eliminates the problem of thermal expansion of lenses for drone cameras with its revolutionary MEMS Autofocus Actuator. 

 

What Sheba technologies enable for drone cameras:

 

1. Swift Autofocus: Sheba’s MEMS Autofocus Actuator brings lightning-fast autofocus capabilities to drone cameras. Whether you’re tracking a moving subject or transitioning between close-ups and wide shots, the Sheba actuator ensures sharp focus in milliseconds.

 

2. Eliminating Thermal Expansion Challenges: Thermal expansion of lenses can compromise image quality. Sheba’s actuator counteracts this issue, maintaining precise focus even in extreme temperature variations, ensuring your aerial shots remain consistently sharp and clear.

 

3. Energy-Efficient: Drones rely on battery power, and especially when flying in remote conditions far and away from battery recharge stations, efficiency matters. Sheba’s actuator consumes minimal power, extending your drone’s flight time and reducing the need for frequent battery changes.

 

4. Reliable in Any Environment: Drones operate in diverse conditions, from scorching deserts to freezing mountaintops. Sheba’s actuator is designed to thrive in extreme environments, ensuring dependable autofocus in all situations.

 

5. Customizable and Scalable: Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional, Sheba’s solution is customizable to suit your needs. It scales seamlessly, allowing you to equip your entire drone fleet with advanced autofocus capabilities.

 

Aerial Imaging Beyond Limits

 

Sheba’s MEMS Autofocus Actuator not only resolves thermal expansion challenges but also enhances the overall aerial imaging experience. It empowers you to capture stunning landscapes, conduct precise inspections, and document events from unique angles, all while maintaining impeccable focus.

 

Join the Future of Aerial Photography

 

As the drone industry continues to innovate, Sheba Microsystems is at the forefront, enabling drone enthusiasts and professionals alike to achieve unparalleled imaging excellence. With Sheba’s MEMS Autofocus Actuator, the sky is no longer the limit; it’s the canvas for your creative vision.

Learn more at www.shebamicrosystems.com

Sheba Microsystems’ MEMS actuator technology revolutionizes security camera systems by delivering superior image quality and robustness. This is especially important for the highest security-protected sites in the world which have high-tech security teams and AI-powered surveillance applications at their disposal.

AI-Powered Security Cameras Require:

1. Crispest Surveillance Footage for AI Analysis: In high-security zones such as banks, airports, and government buildings, image clarity is non-negotiable for AI algorithms. It’s a matter of split seconds – faster than the human eye can detect. Sheba Microsystems’ technologies enable razor-sharp images and video footage, powering AI systems to more accurately identify individuals and potential security threats – when split seconds matter to safety and security.

 

2. 24/7 AI-Based Monitoring: For round-the-clock AI-driven surveillance in all weather conditions, Sheba Microsystems’ MEMS actuators ensure security cameras remain dependable. They can withstand extreme temperatures and weather fluctuations, ensuring uninterrupted data collection and analysis by AI algorithms.

 

3. Facial Recognition Accuracy: In applications like access control or criminal identification, facial recognition technology relies on high-quality images for AI processing. Sheba Microsystems’ MEMS actuator technologies enable security cameras to help capture clear and stable facial images, significantly improving the accuracy of AI-driven identification systems.

 

4. Enhanced AI-Powered Traffic Management: In traffic surveillance, clarity and reliability are essential for AI algorithms to accurately process data. Sheba Microsystems’ MEMS actuator technologies enable cameras to excel in capturing license plate numbers and monitoring traffic flow, contributing to improved road safety.

 

5. Optimized AI for Critical Infrastructure Protection and Remote Monitoring of Critical Assets: Protecting vital infrastructure and critical assets requires cameras that can endure even the harshest environments, and only Sheba Microsystems’ MEMS actuator technology ensures this happens.

To learn more about how Sheba Microsystems’ robust MEMS actuators supercharge AI-driven surveillance cameras, visit  www.shebamicrosystems.com.

In the realm of security cameras, where precision and reliability are of utmost importance, Sheba Microsystems is leading the way with our innovative MEMS autofocus technology technology powered by MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) actuators. 

This transformative technology reimagines what is possible for security cameras and their applications, offering unmatched advantages across various security scenarios.

 

Sheba Microsystems’  MEMS autofocus technology revolutionizes security camera systems by delivering superior image quality and robustness . The incorporation of the autocous feature in security cameras solves a key challenge that is often encountered by security cameras: the thermal expansion of the optics when temperature fluctuates. 

 

Sheba MEMS autofocus actuators keep the image sharp and always in-focus – regardless of temperature fluctuations – by moving the lightweight image sensor, and not the lens, thus ensuring the highest level of surveillance accuracy and dependability.

 

One of the standout features of Sheba Microsystems’ technology is its adaptability to diverse security applications:

 

1. Crisp Surveillance Footage: In high-security zones such as banks, airports, and government buildings, image clarity is non-negotiable. Sheba Microsystems’ technology provides razor-sharp footage, making it easier to identify individuals and potential security threats.

 

2. 24/7 Monitoring: For round-the-clock surveillance in all weather conditions, Sheba Microsystems’ technology ensures cameras remain dependable, withstanding extreme temperatures and weather fluctuations, resulting in uninterrupted security camera monitoring.

 

3. Facial Recognition: In applications like access control or criminal identification, facial recognition technology relies on high-quality images. Blurry and fuzzy images can mean misidentification – and even historically in recent years resulting in a miscarriage of justice. Sheba Microsystems’ technology enables cameras to capture unprecedented clear and stable facial images, thus dramatically improving the accuracy of identification systems.

 

4. Traffic Management: In traffic surveillance, clarity and reliability are essential. Sheba technologies enable cameras to excel in capturing license plate numbers and monitoring traffic flow, contributing to improved road safety and improved efficiencies for police and highway patrol teams.

 

5. Critical Infrastructure Protection: Protecting vital infrastructure requires cameras that can endure harsh environments. Sheba Microsystems ensures that security cameras remain operational, even in challenging conditions.

 

The Future is Clear

The future of security and surveillance cameras is here, and it’s defined by precision, reliability, and adaptability. Sheba Microsystems’ MEMS Autofocus Actuator sets a new standard, ensuring that you never miss a detail, even in the most challenging conditions. Stay ahead with Sheba – where the focus is always on you.

To learn more about how Sheba Microsystems is empowering surveillance professionals with the tools they need to keep our communities safe and secure, visit www.shebamicrosystems.com.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go: Rugged, Thermally Stable Technology for the True Adventurer

 

Sheba Microsystems’ MEMS autofocus  technology is a game-changer for action enthusiasts. 

 

By harnessing the precision and ruggedness of MEMS actuators, we have developed a technology that enables action cameras to excel in maintaining a consistent high-quality imaging whether in extreme cold or high temperature environmental conditions. 

 

This ability is now made possible by solving the thermal expansion of the lens assembly at extreme weather conditions. 

 

Incredibly, Sheba’s uPistons’ autofocus actuators enable focus adjustment to maintain images sharp across the temperature range (-40 to +100 °C) !  

 

So, whether you’re capturing high-speed extreme sports or exploring the depths of the ocean, action vision cameras can now deliver stunning clarity with this new stability made possible only by Sheba Microsystems proprietary technology.

 

Sheba MEMS Autofocus Actuators: The Ideal Solution for Action Cameras

Sheba’s uPistons autofocus technology has been developed out of labs at the University of Toronto and further refined over the past decade by the Sheba team of world-leading MEMS engineers, undergoing rigorous reliability tests, including thermal shock, thermal cycling, vibration, mechanical shock, drop, tumble, and microdrop tests.

 

The MEMS autofocus actuators are incredibly stiff, ensuring minimal movement even in the harshest shock environments. They can maintain the image focus even during shocks more than 50 g’s, enabling high pixel count image sensors and shallow depth of focus for lenses.

 

Capture every detail with confidence. Sheba Microsystems’ MEMS autofocus  technology, driven by robust MEMS actuators, is a game-changer for action cameras. It enhances image quality, ensures reliability in the toughest conditions, and empowers adventurers to capture and share their exhilarating experiences with the world. 

 

Learn more at www.shebamicrosystems.com.

In the exciting innovations happening in automotive technology and autonomous vehicles, Sheba Microsystems is at the forefront of revolutionizing automotive vision systems. 

Our groundbreaking active athermalization technology, leveraging MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) actuators, addresses the pressing challenges of  the thermal expansion of optical systems, which are long-known to limit image quality in the automotive camera industry.

 

Solving this limitation is especially critical for autonomous (driver-less) vehicles. This is what Sheba Microsystems does best: our robust solution is capable of operating seamlessly even in the roughest conditions.

 

Sheba Microsystems’ active athermalization technology is a game-changer for automotive vision systems. By harnessing the precision of MEMS actuators, we have created cameras that not only excel in image quality but also withstand the harshest vibrations and extreme temperatures encountered on the road.

 

This innovation means a new era of enhanced safety on our highways – and especially as autonomous vehicles are increasingly close to being an integral part of every community.

 

Learn more about Sheba and its potential for the automotive industry:

Sheba Microsystems ensures that ADAS features, which are crucial for avoiding accidents, operate with unparalleled reliability, by enabling the highest resolution imaging in car cameras ever made possible. Our pioneering work ensures safer roads, reduces costs, and enhances the driving experience. To learn more, visit www.shebamicrosystems.com.

From electric vehicles to autonomous vehicles, automotive technology is advancing at a breathtaking rate. As we navigate the changes to come in automotive technology, the role – and critical importance – of cameras in modern vehicles cannot be overstated. 

 

From self-parking to enabling advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and the deployment of autonomous vehicles, cameras play a pivotal role in enhancing road safety for everyone on the road today.

 

However, a significant challenge for automotive camera technology is the degradation of  image quality due to temperature fluctuations. 

 

The Problem to Solve

As temperature changes, the lens assembly undergoes thermal expansion, leading to image blur as the image plane shifts away from the image sensor plane. This challenge has limited automotive cameras, and especially front-view cameras, from offering high-resolution imaging. High-resolution imaging in front-view cameras is of course a critical factor in enabling enhanced safety for vehicles.

 

Addressing this problem of thermal expansion is the key to unlocking a multitude of benefits for improved automotive vision systems. 

 

Introducing: Sheba Microsystems Revolutionary MEMS Autofocus (AF) Actuator for Active Athermalization in Embedded Vision Cameras

 

While smartphones have tackled this challenge by using autofocus actuators – such as  electromagnetic actuators or VCMs – these actuators are not reliable in achieving active athermalization in automotive/ADAS cameras.

 

This is due to the fact that 1) they are unreliable in extreme environmental conditions (-40 to +125 °C) and 2) the optics of these cameras is around 30 times larger than the optics of smartphones.

Other autofocus systems, such as tunable lenses (liquid, piezo, or polymer-based), are also not ideal solutions for achieving active athermalization because they lack thermal stability across the temperature range, and the quality of the optical system is compromised in terms of refractive properties. The same challenge faces SMA-based actuators, they are not thermally stable and only operate normally within a limited temperature range (<+65 °C), which is not compatible range for most of the embedded vision cameras including automotive. 

 

Sheba Microsystems has developed an innovative solution to address this long-standing industry problem. 

Our cutting-edge technology utilizes a silicon-based MEMS actuator platform, which actuates the image sensor along the optical axis to compensate for thermal expansion in the optics. The weight of the image sensor is only 2-3 % of the optical lens, which makes it easier to handle, thus enabling ultra-fast and precise autofocus performance – even when temperatures fluctuate.

MEMS actuators are uniquely suited to solve this issue, as they are thermally stable (operating normally within -40 to 150 °C range) and maintain consistent performance regardless of temperature changes. They are also fast, precise, low power, and small in size.  

 

How Sheba’s technology revolutionizes the automotive industry:

 

1. Enhanced Safety: Sheba’s MEMS autofocus  technology for active athermalization ensures that ADAS features such as lane-keeping assistance, collision avoidance, and adaptive cruise control operate flawlessly, reducing the risk of accidents.

 

2. Improved Image Quality: Sheba’s MEMS technology results in sharper and more stable footage, essential for precise object detection and recognition, even in challenging driving conditions.
   
   
3. Lens design flexibility: Our technology offers flexibility in lens design to match the growing trend of automotive sensors towards high pixel resolution. Forward-facing cameras can now detect long-range objects, traffic signs, and pedestrians with ease.

 

4. Expanded Autonomous Driving Capabilities: Autonomous vehicles rely heavily on cameras for perception. Ensuring the durability of MEMS components is critical for the safe deployment of self-driving cars.

 

5. Innovative In-Car Experiences: Stable MEMS autofocus technology can also be utilized for in-cabin cameras (Driver and Occupant Monitoring Systems) which play a crucial role in the safety of the driver and the passengers of the vehicle.  

 

The potential benefits of Sheba Microsystems’ new MEMS actuator technology are far-reaching, from reducing accidents and maintenance costs to enabling the widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles. Learn more about how Sheba Microsystems is revolutionizing the automotive industry by visiting www.shebamicrosystems.com.

The camera has become an integral part of our daily lives. Whether it’s capturing precious moments or enhancing safety and security, the quality of camera technology in smartphones, wearables, and computers is increasingly important.

 

In cameras, actuators are used to move the optical elements (optics or sensors) to achieve autofocus and image stabilization. Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) actuators have enormous potential to replace the incumbent electromagnetic actuators because MEMS actuators possess numerous advantages, such as high speed and low power, which would enable unprecedented sharp images.

 

However, for many years, a major obstacle hindering the incorporation of MEMS silicon actuators into cameras has been the structural failures that can occur when they undergo shocks or accidental drops. 

 

By solving this known issue, MEMS actuators have the potential to open up a world of new benefits for improved cameras – in every industry. 

 

 

History

 

MEMS encompasses two types of devices: sensors and actuators. Silicon-based sensors (such as accelerometers and gyroscopes) have been pivotal in shaping numerous industries over the past several decades, such as in automotive, wearables, healthcare, aerospace, and IoT devices.

 

However, the use of silicon-based MEMS actuators has been limited in industry, mainly due to the reliability of these devices when they are loaded with weights during drop test reliability.

Over the last decade, there have been several attempts by other companies’ MEMS actuator technologies to attempt to achieve autofocus and image stabilization features in cameras.  But none of these attempts were successful in overcoming the challenge of the drop test failure of MEMS actuators – until now.

 

Introducing Sheba Microsystems

Spun out of a research lab at the University of Toronto, Sheba Microsystems has solved the problem of MEMS component failure due to drops.

The “technology magic”  lies in Sheba’s novel electrode configuration of MEMS actuators, named piston and tube (or uPistons technology). 

 

In contrast to the conventional electrode configuration, such as the combdrive, which is often used in MEMS actuators, Sheba’s piston-tube configuration substantially improves the rigidity of the moving MEMS part, or rotor. 

 

This improvement comes from its ribbed or meshed structure, which features thousands of holes within a plate, forming interconnected tubes. Unlike comb-drives, where the fingers are supported from one side only, Sheba’s design minimizes susceptibility to structural damage when subjected to drops or shocks.

 

By dramatically minimizing this susceptibility to structural damage, Sheba’s technology solves a well-known issue, and therefore unleashes enormous potential of widespread adoption of MEMS silicon-based actuators in the camera industry – from security and transportation to automotive, entertainment, shipping and delivery, manufacturing, and more. 

 

Sheba MEMS Actuators Will Transform the Camera Industry

By solving the major challenge that has been a blocker for the utilization of MEMS actuators in cameras, Sheba Microsystems has paved the path for a revolutionary enhancement in camera performance. 

 

Sheba MEMS actuators offer distinctive advantages to cameras, including:

 

1. Enhanced Durability: Sheba MEMS actuators have successfully passed a 130 million life cycle test. The incumbent, VCM actuators, as used in smartphone cameras, are qualified up to 300 K life cycles.
   
   
2. Compact Size: The small form-factor of Sheba’s MEMS actuators allows them to easily fit beneath the camera sensor, ensuring a seamless integration within compact device designs.
   
   
3. Low Power Consumption: MEMS actuators function as capacitors, consuming minimal power, which is essential for enhancing the battery life of portable devices.
   
   
4. Fast Speed: With a settling time of less than a few milliseconds, MEMS actuators enable rapid adjustments, facilitating quick focusing and image stabilization.
   
   
5. Sub-Micron Precision: Sheba’s MEMS actuators can generate ultra-fine movements as precise as hundreds of nanometers, ensuring exceptionally sharp and detailed image capture.
   
   
6. Minimal Electromagnetic Interference: MEMS actuators have no adverse impact on a device’s antenna, ensuring uninterrupted wireless connectivity.
   
   
7. No Hysteresis: MEMS actuators provide highly repeatable motion with sub-micron precision, eliminating any irregularities in movement.
   
   
8. Versatility in Lens Type and Design: Sheba’s MEMS actuators offer flexibility when it comes to accommodating various lens types and designs, including large aperture lenses that enhance low-light photography.
   
   
9. Reduced Dynamic Tilt: Sheba’s MEMS actuators maintain a minimal tilt angle of less than 0.02 degrees, contributing to improved image stability and reduced blurriness.
   
   
10. Compatibility with Large Sensors: MEMS actuators have no restrictions on sensor format size, making them suitable for a wide range of camera systems, including those with large sensors.
    

 

Sheba’s breakthrough MEMS actuator technology unlocks a world of new possibilities for cameras in every industry. Learn more at www.shebamicrosystems.com.